A Southport Tory councillor has controversially crossed the council floor to join the Labour party.

The political u-turn by Cambridge Ward councillor Tony Crabtree has been welcomed by Sefton Council’s Labour leader, Peter Dowd.

Cllr Crabtree said he knows his decision will come as a surprise to some and a disappointment to others.

He added: “During the last two years I have become very disillusioned with many people in the local Conservative Party and extremely frustrated with the national Conservative Party for not dealing with the problems here in Southport.

“I feel the local Conservative Party has drifted away and has forgotten basic facts. Councillors are there to represent all their residents’ concerns and worries both locally and nationally. I believe their policies have been to the detriment of Southport and the residents they claim to serve.

“Therefore, I have made my decision to join the Labour Party. People may ask why – in a nutshell Labour have acted fairly across the borough since they took control of the council two years ago, they have had to deal with unprecedented cuts amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds.

“The coalition government have demanded too much of the people of Southport and local Tories and Liberal Democrats have remained silent.

“Well, I won’t remain silent any longer.”

Councillor Peter Dowd told the Visiter that he knows the decision to cross the floor must have been difficult for Cllr Crabtree.

He added: “No-one changes their political allegiance lightly and without soul-searching or overnight. But I do appreciate that Tony has been frustrated by the lack of support he believes his former party has given to Sefton and Southport in particular.

“Some will ask is there anything in it for him personally. The answer is a simple no. I know he has had enough of the way his former party and their Liberal Democrat bedfellows have treated the people of Southport.

“I am pleased that he has recognised the way Labour has handled itself over the past two years notwithstanding the massive cuts we have had to face. I welcome Tony to the Labour Party and look forward to working with him as Labour’s first Southport Councillor in years and the first of many.”